Recording material discharge device, and recording material processing apparatus using same

ABSTRACT

Provided is a recording material discharge device including a recording material discharge member that discharges a recording material, a receiving member that receives the recording material which is discharged by the recording material discharge member, and a variable section that changes an angle of the discharge of the recording material discharged by the recording material discharge member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2014-063762 filed Mar. 26, 2014.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording material discharge device,and a recording material processing apparatus using the same.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a recordingmaterial discharge device including:

a recording material discharge member that discharges a recordingmaterial;

a receiving member that receives the recording material which isdischarged by the recording material discharge member; and

a variable section that changes an angle of the discharge of therecording material discharged by the recording material dischargemember.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of anexemplary embodiment of a recording material discharge device to whichthe present invention is applied, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagramillustrating an operation example of the recording material dischargedevice;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configurationof a recording material processing apparatus according to a firstexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example ofa recording material discharge device according to the first exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example ofa recording material discharge roller, a driving transmission system,and a main portion of the driving transmission system of anaccommodation receiver that are used in the first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of astiffening element that is added to the recording material dischargeroller, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a loadingoperation example of a recording material that is discharged to theaccommodation receiver;

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an angleadjustment mechanism of a discharge module, and FIG. 6B is anexplanatory diagram illustrating an operation example of the angleadjustment mechanism of the discharge module;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a discharge control process for therecording material that is used in the first exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state where adischarge angle of the recording material that is discharged from thedischarge module is changed;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main portion of arecording material discharge device according to a second exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a discharge control process for arecording material that is used in the second exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state where adischarge angle of the recording material that is discharged from adischarge module is changed based on the loading amount of the recordingmaterial in an accommodation receiver;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configurationof a recording material processing apparatus according to a thirdexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main portion of arecording material discharge device according to the third exemplaryembodiment; and

FIGS. 14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state where adischarge angle of a recording material that is discharged from adischarge module is changed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview of Exemplary Embodiment

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an overview of an exemplary embodiment of arecording material discharge device to which the present invention isapplied.

In the drawings, a recording material discharge device 1 includes arecording material discharge member 3 that discharges a recordingmaterial 2, a receiving member 4 that receives the recording material 2which is discharged by the recording material discharge member 3, and avariable section 5 that changes an angle of the discharge of therecording material 2 to the receiving member 4 by the recording materialdischarge member 3.

In this technical measure, any of those having discharge members of pairconfiguration may be appropriately selected as the recording materialdischarge member 3, and the discharge members may have the shape ofrollers or belts.

In addition, any of those that receive the recording material 2, whichis discharged by the recording material discharge member 3, on adischarge direction downstream side may be the receiving member 4.Representative aspects of the receiving member 4 include a recordingmaterial accommodating member and a recording material guide member thatguides the recording material 2 toward a post-processing section whenpost-processing is performed on the discharged recording material 2.

Moreover, any of those in which overall postures of the dischargemembers of pair configuration are changed and a position of a recordingmaterial nipping portion (nip portion) of the discharge members of pairconfiguration is moved without changing relative positions of thedischarge members of pair configuration by rotating a supporting memberof the discharge members of pair configuration, which are the recordingmaterial discharge member 3, may be appropriately selected as thevariable section 5 if the variable section 5 has the aspect that theangle θ of the discharge of the recording material 2 to the receivingmember 4 by the recording material discharge member 3 is changed (forexample, aspect that θ1 in FIG. 1A is changed to θ2 (<θ1) in FIG. 1B).

Next, representative aspects or preferable aspects of the recordingmaterial discharge device according to this exemplary embodiment will bedescribed.

First, the representative aspects of the recording material dischargemember 3 include an aspect that the recording material discharge memberhas a stiffening element which stiffens and discharges the recordingmaterial 2. This aspect is effective in holding a discharge posture ofthe recording material 2 in a case where a weak recording material 2 ishandled as the recording material 2.

In addition, the representative aspects of the variable section 5include an aspect that the angle θ of the discharge of the recordingmaterial 2 is changed to the receiving member 4 by the recordingmaterial discharge member 3 according to a characteristic of therecording material 2. With this aspect, the angle θ of the discharge ofthe recording material 2 by the recording material discharge member 3can be changed according to the characteristic of the recording material2 and an operation for receiving the recording material 2 with thereceiving member 4 may be adjusted.

Herein, examples of the characteristic of the recording material 2include factors affecting a receiving reaction force that acts on therecording material 2 which is received by the receiving member 4 (or animpact force resulting from hitting of the recording material 2discharged to the receiving member 4) and factors affecting a frictionalresistance of the recording material 2 which is discharged to thereceiving member 4.

More specifically, the representative examples include at least any oneof the basis weight of the recording material 2, the length of therecording material 2 in a transport direction, a surface property of therecording material 2, and the type of an image recorded on the recordingmaterial 2, and these may be appropriately combined with each other aswell. The size of the recording material 2 allowing for a dimension in awidth direction, which intersects with the transport direction, may alsobe considered in addition to the length of the recording material 2 inthe transport direction.

For example, concerning the basis weight of the recording material 2,the receiving reaction force that acts on the recording material 2 whichis received by the receiving member 4 is larger in a recording material2 with a large basis weight than in a recording material 2 with a smallbasis weight, and thus the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2with respect to the receiving member 4 may become smaller in a casewhere the recording material 2 with the large basis weight is dischargedthan in a case where the recording material 2 with the small basisweight is discharged.

In addition, concerning the length of the recording material 2 in thetransport direction, the receiving reaction force that acts on therecording material 2 which is received by the receiving member 4 islarger and the possibility of a collision with the recording material 2which is previously received by the receiving member 4 is higher in therecording material 2 that is long in the transport direction than in therecording material 2 that is short in the transport direction, and thusthe discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 with respect to thereceiving member 4 may become smaller in a case where the recordingmaterial 2 that is long in the transport direction is discharged than ina case where the recording material 2 that is short in the transportdirection is discharged.

Moreover, concerning the surface property of the recording material 2, arecording material 2 with a high smoothness (for example, a coated sheethaving a flat and smooth coating layer) is more slippery than arecording material 2 with a low smoothness (for example, an uncoatedsheet not having a flat and smooth coating layer), although depending onthe surface roughness and frictional resistance of the recordingmaterial 2, and thus the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2with respect to the receiving member 4 may become smaller in a casewhere the recording material 2 with the high smoothness is dischargedthan in a case where the recording material 2 with the low smoothness isdischarged.

Furthermore, concerning the type of the image recorded on the recordingmaterial 2, a recording material 2 on which line images such as latticeimages are mainly recorded is more slippery than a recording material 2on which surface images such as halftone images are mainly recorded, andthus the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 with respect tothe receiving member 4 may become smaller in a case where the recordingmaterial 2 with many line images is discharged than in a case where therecording material 2 with many surface images is discharged.

Through these changes, the receiving reaction force that acts on therecording material 2 which is received by the receiving member 4 andtransport resistance of the recording material 2 may be suppressed.

Moreover, in another representative aspect of the variable section 5,the discharge members of pair configuration that rotate in contact witheach other and a supporting member 6 that supports the discharge membersof pair configuration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum are providedas the recording material discharge member 3, and the angle of thedischarge of the recording material 2 by the recording materialdischarge member 3 is changed with the variable section 5 withoutchanging the relative positions of the discharge members of pairconfiguration by rotating the supporting member 6 about the rotationfulcrum of the supporting member 6.

According to a preferable aspect of this aspect, in the variable section5, a straight line connecting the position of the recording materialnipping portion of the discharge members of pair configuration to therotation fulcrum of the supporting member 6 is substantially orthogonalto a direction of the discharge of the recording material 2 by therecording material discharge member 3. According to this aspect, theamount of movement of the position of the recording material nippingportion of the recording material discharge member 3 is small and anoperation for discharging the recording material 2 with the recordingmaterial discharge member 3 is stable.

Furthermore, in another representative aspect of the variable section 5,a designation section (not illustrated) that designates thecharacteristic of the recording material 2 is provided, and the angle θof the discharge of the recording material 2 by the recording materialdischarge member 3 is changed based on the characteristic of therecording material 2 which is designated by the designation section. Inthis aspect, a discharge behavior of the recording material 2 thatmatches with the characteristic of the recording material 2 is performedif the characteristic of the recording material 2 is designated by thedesignation section and the discharge angle θ of the recording material2 that matches with the recording material 2, which is designated basedon the characteristic of the recording material 2 designated by thedesignation section, is stored in advance as information.

In addition, in a representative aspect of the recording materialdischarge device 1, the receiving member 4 is the recording materialaccommodating member that accommodates the recording material 2 which isdischarged by the recording material discharge member 3.

In this aspect, an accommodation position of the recording material 2with respect to the recording material accommodating member may beadjusted by changing the angle of the discharge of the recordingmaterial 2 by the recording material discharge member 3.

Examples of this aspect include an aspect in which the angle θ of thedischarge of the recording material 2 to the recording materialaccommodating member by the recording material discharge member 3becomes smaller with the variable section 5, based on the characteristicof the recording material 2 as described above, in a case where thereceiving reaction force that acts on the recording material 2 which isdischarged to the recording material accommodating member or thefrictional resistance of the recording material 2 is large than in acase where the receiving reaction force that acts on the recordingmaterial 2 which is discharged to the recording material accommodatingmember or the frictional resistance of the recording material 2 issmall.

This aspect allows for the size of the receiving reaction force thatacts on the recording material 2 (or the impact force of the recordingmaterial 2) or the frictional resistance of the recording material 2based on the characteristic of the recording material 2 for an operationof shifting the previously loaded recording material 2 in a case wherethe receiving reaction force and the frictional resistance are large.Accordingly, in such a case, the operation for shifting the loadedrecording material 2 may be weakened by allowing the discharge angle θof the recording material 2 with respect to the recording materialaccommodating member to become smaller.

As described above, representative aspects of the characteristic of therecording material 2 include at least any one of the basis weight of therecording material 2, the length of the recording material 2 in thetransport direction, the surface property of the recording material 2,and the type of the image recorded on the recording material 2.

In this aspect, it may be determined whether the recording material 2 isa thick sheet or a thin sheet by using, for example, the size of thebasis weight of the recording material 2. In addition, the size of therecording material 2 may be determined by using the length of therecording material 2 in the transport direction. Moreover, it may bedetermined whether or not the surface of the recording material 2 iscovered by a coating layer with a low frictional resistance by using thesurface property of the recording material 2. Furthermore, it maybedetermined whether or not the image is, for example, the halftone imageby using the type of the image recorded or the degree of unevenness ofthe image may be determined by using the presence or absence of thelattice image. Based on these, the discharge angle θ of the recordingmaterial 2 may be changed and an irregularity of the accommodationposition of the recording material 2 in the recording materialaccommodating member may be suppressed to be small.

In addition, in a preferable aspect of the recording material dischargedevice 1 that includes the recording material accommodating member asthe receiving member 4, the variable section 5 has a detection section(not illustrated) that is capable of detecting the loading amount of therecording material 2 which is accommodated in the recording materialaccommodating member as the receiving member 4, and the angle θ of thedischarge of the recording material 2 to the recording materialaccommodating member by the recording material discharge member 3 maybecome smaller in a case where the loading amount of the recordingmaterial 2 is large than in a case where the loading amount of therecording material 2 is small based on a result of the detection by thedetection section.

Herein, any detection section may be appropriately selected if thedetection section detects the loading amount of the recording material 2in the recording material accommodating member. The frictionalresistance between the discharged recording material 2 and the loadedrecording material 2 increases when the loading amount of the recordingmaterial 2 increases. In view of this, the discharge angle of therecording material 2 maybe corrected so as to be capable of respondingto the large frictional resistance.

Moreover, in another representative aspect of the recording materialdischarge device 1, the receiving member 4 is the recording materialguide member that guides the recording material 2 which is discharged bythe recording material discharge member 3 toward the post-processingsection (not illustrated).

In this aspect, a collision sound is generated or a high load is appliedwith respect to the recording material guide member in a case where, forexample, the recording material 2 which is the thick sheet isdischarged. The generation of the collision sound and the high load maybe suppressed when the discharge angle θ of the recording material 2 ischanged.

In addition, this exemplary embodiment also covers a recording materialprocessing apparatus that includes the recording material dischargedevice 1.

A representative aspect of the recording material processing apparatusincludes a processing section (not illustrated) that processes therecording material 2, and the recording material discharge device 1 (forexample, using the recording material accommodating member as thereceiving member 4) that discharges the recording material 2 which isprocessed by the processing section.

Moreover, another representative aspect of the recording materialprocessing apparatus includes the post-processing section (notillustrated) that post-processes the recording material 2, and therecording material discharge device 1 (for example, using the recordingmaterial guide member as the receiving member 4) that discharges therecording material 2 toward the post-processing section.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment <Overall Configuration of Image FormingApparatus>

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first exemplaryembodiment of an image forming apparatus as the recording materialprocessing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

In an image forming apparatus 20 illustrated in the drawing, imagingengines 22 (specifically, 22 a to 22 d) for four colors (black, yellow,magenta, and cyan in this exemplary embodiment) are arranged in alateral direction in an apparatus housing 21, a transfer module 23 thathas an intermediate image transfer belt 230, which is circularlytransported along an arrangement direction of each of the imagingengines 22, is arranged above the imaging engines 22, a recordingmaterial supply device 24, where the recording material such as thesheets is accommodated, is arranged in a lower portion of the apparatushousing 21, and a recording material transport path 25 from therecording material supply device 24 is arranged in a substantiallyvertical direction.

In this exemplary embodiment, the respective imaging engines 22 (22 a to22 d) form, for example, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images(arrangement not being necessarily limited to this order) in order froma circulation direction upstream side of the intermediate image transferbelt 230, and have photoconductors 31, charging devices (chargingrollers in this example) 32 that charge the photoconductors 31 inadvance, an exposure device 33 that writes electrostatic latent imageson the respective photoconductors 31 which are charged by the chargingdevices 32 (a common exposure device is used in each of the imagingengines 22 in this example), developing devices 34 that develop theelectrostatic latent images which are formed on the photoconductors 31with toner (for example, negative polarity in this exemplary embodiment)of corresponding colors, and cleaning devices 35 that clean residue onthe photoconductors 31.

Herein, the exposure device 33 has, for example, four semiconductorlasers (not illustrated), one polygon mirror 42, a focusing lens (notillustrated), and respective mirrors (not illustrated) corresponding tothe respective photoconductors 31 stored in an exposure housing 41 sothat light from the semiconductor laser for each color component issubjected to deflection scanning by the polygon mirror 42 and opticalimages are guided to exposure points on the correspondingphotoconductors 31 via the focusing lens and the mirrors.

Signs 36 (36 a to 36 d) represent toner cartridges that are used toreplenish the toner of the respective color components into therespective developing devices 34.

In addition, in this exemplary embodiment, the transfer module 23 is amodule in which, for example, the intermediate image transfer belt 230laid across a pair of support rollers (one of which is a driving roller)231 and 232, and primary image transfer devices (primary image transferrollers in this example) 51 are arranged on a back surface of theintermediate image transfer belt 230 which corresponds to thephotoconductors 31 of the respective imaging engines 22. When a voltagethat has the polarity opposite to the charge polarity of the toner isapplied to the primary image transfer devices 51, the toner images onthe photoconductors 31 are electrostatically transferred to theintermediate image transfer belt 230 side.

Moreover, a secondary image transfer device 52 is arranged at a locationcorresponding to the support roller 232 on a downstream side from theimaging engine 22 d which is at a most downstream side of theintermediate image transfer belt 230, and allows a primary imagetransfer image on the intermediate image transfer belt 230 to besubjected to secondary image transfer (collective transfer) onto therecording material.

In this exemplary embodiment, the secondary image transfer device 52 hasa secondary image transfer roller 521 that is arranged to be in pressurecontact with a toner image carrying surface side of the intermediateimage transfer belt 230, and a backup roller (serving also as thesupport roller 232 in this example) that is arranged on the back surfaceside of the intermediate image transfer belt 230 to form an electrodefacing the secondary image transfer roller 521.

The secondary image transfer roller 521 is, for example, grounded, and abias having the same polarity as the charge polarity of the toner isapplied to the backup roller (support roller 232).

Furthermore, a belt cleaning device 53 is arranged on an upstream sidefrom the imaging engine 22 a which is at a most upstream side of theintermediate image transfer belt 230, and removes residual toner on theintermediate image transfer belt 230.

In addition, a supply roller 61 that supplies the recording material isdisposed in the recording material supply device 24, and a feed roller62 that transports the recording material is arranged immediately behindthe supply roller 61. A positioning roller (registration roller) 63 thatsupplies the recording material to a secondary image transfer locationat a predetermined timing is arranged in the recording materialtransport path 25 which is positioned immediately before the secondaryimage transfer location.

A fixing device 66 is disposed in the recording material transport path25 that is positioned on a downstream side from the secondary imagetransfer location, and the fixing device 66 has a heating/fixing roller66 a into which a heating heater (not illustrated) is built and apress/fixing roller 66 b that is arranged in pressure contact with theheating/fixing roller 66 a and follows the heating/fixing roller 66 a torotate as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In addition, a recording material discharge device 67 is disposed on adownstream side from the fixing device 66. The recording materialdischarge device 67 has a recording material discharge roller 68 thatdischarges the recording material in the apparatus housing 21, and arecording material accommodation receiver 69 that is formed in an upperportion of the apparatus housing 21. The recording material that isdischarged by the recording material discharge roller 68 is accommodatedin the recording material accommodation receiver 69.

Moreover, in this exemplary embodiment, a manual supply device (MSI) 71is disposed on a side of the apparatus housing 21, and the recordingmaterial on the manual supply device 71 is supplied by a supply roller72 toward the recording material transport path 25.

Furthermore, a double-side recording module 73 is attached to theapparatus housing 21, and the double-side recording module 73 reversesthe recording material discharge device 67 when a duplex mode isselected to perform image recording on both surfaces of the recordingmaterial, imports the recording material, where the recording on one ofthe surfaces is completed, into the double-side recording module 73 witha guide roller 74 in front of an inlet, transports the recordingmaterial along a recording material returning transport path 76 in thedouble-side recording module 73 with an appropriate number of feedrollers 77, and supplies the recording material back to the positioningroller 63 side.

<Recording Material Discharge Device> —Recording Material DischargeRoller—

In this exemplary embodiment, the recording material discharge roller 68is configured to have discharge rollers 68 a and 68 b of pairconfiguration that roll in contact with each other. For example, thedischarge roller 68 a that is positioned on a lower side is a drivingroller, the discharge roller 68 b that is positioned on an upper side isa driven roller, and a recording material S is nipped between both ofthe discharge rollers 68 a and 68 b and transported.

In this example, the discharge roller 68 a as the driving roller isdriven by a driving transmission mechanism 90 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4.

In the driving transmission mechanism 90 herein, a driving gear 92 isconnected to a rotating shaft of a drive motor 101 that is capable ofrotating forward and backward, a driven gear 93 is mounted on a rotatingshaft 681 of the discharge roller 68 a as the driving roller, via anelectromagnetic clutch 94, in a connectible and disconnectable manner,and multi-stage gear trains 95 are engagingly interposed between thedriving gear 92 and the driven gear 93 for driving transmission at apredetermined reduction ratio. Accordingly, in this exemplaryembodiment, a driving force from the drive motor 101 is transmitted tothe discharge roller 68 a when the electromagnetic clutch 94 is subjectto ON/OFF control and the discharge rollers 68 a and 68 b of pairconfiguration are driven to rotate in predetermined forward and reversedirections.

—Stiffening Element—

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5A, plural (four in this example) rollermembers 682 formed of an elastic material are arranged in a dividedmanner with respect to the rotating shaft 681 in both of the dischargerollers 68 a and 68 b of pair configuration that constitute therecording material discharge roller 68.

Herein, the roller members 682 of the discharge roller 68 b as thedriven roller are configured to be cylindrical members. In roller embers683 of the discharge roller 68 a as the driving roller, flange portions685 with a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter ofcylindrical portions 684 are formed at opposite ends of the cylindricalportions 684, and lightening portions 686 are ensured around therotating shaft 681 corresponding to the flange portions 685.

Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, a ridge part Sa that extendsin the discharge direction is formed in the recording material S due tothe presence of the flange portions 685 and the lightening portions 686of the discharge roller 68 a as the driving roller when the dischargerollers 68 a and 68 b of pair configuration which constitute therecording material discharge roller 68 nip and transport the recordingmaterial S. As such, stiffening is provided for the recording materialS, even when the recording material S is weak, and thus the recordingmaterial S is discharged at a predetermined discharge angle.

An aspect in which the stiffening element is added to the recordingmaterial discharge roller 68 is illustrated in this exemplaryembodiment. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and,for example, the stiffening elements disclosed in the related art may beadopted.

—Recording Material Accommodation Receiver—

In this exemplary embodiment, the recording material accommodationreceiver 69 has a fixed accommodation receiver 111 that is fixed to theupper portion of the apparatus housing 21, a guide unit 112 that isformed in the fixed accommodation receiver 111 to extend in a directionwhich intersects with the discharge direction of the recording materialS (substantially orthogonal direction in this example), and a movableaccommodation receiver 113 that may be moved along the guide unit 112 ofthe fixed accommodation receiver 111 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,and performs offset accommodation on the recording material S by jobunit.

The recording material accommodation receiver 69 is appropriately set atan offset accommodation position via an offset driving mechanism 120.

Herein, for example, an internal thread portion 121 that extends in adirection of movement of the movable accommodation receiver 113 isdisposed and an external thread portion 122 that is connected to arotating shaft of a drive motor 102 is disposed in the offset drivingmechanism 120 and the external thread portion 122 is engaged with theinternal thread portion 121 so that the external thread portion 122 issubjected to predetermined rotation to the left with respect to areference position or is subjected to predetermined rotation to theright with respect to the reference position and the movableaccommodation receiver 113 is moved to a left position P_(L) which isoffset to the left with respect to a center position P_(C) or to a rightposition P_(R) which is offset to the right with respect to the centerposition as illustrated in FIG. 5B.

—Discharge Module—

In this exemplary embodiment, the recording material discharge roller 68is built into a discharge module 130 that is rotatable about a rotationfulcrum 135 as illustrated in FIG. 3, and an angle adjustment mechanism140 that adjusts an angle during the arrangement of the discharge module130 is disposed in the discharge module 130.

In this example, a discharge path 132 is disposed in a discharge housing131 and the recording material discharge roller 68 is arranged in thevicinity of an outlet of the discharge path 132 in the discharge module130. The rotation fulcrum 135 is disposed below the recording materialdischarge roller 68 in the discharge housing 131, and the dischargemodule 130 is rotatable about the rotation fulcrum 135.

Particularly, in this exemplary embodiment, a straight line connectingthe center of the rotation fulcrum 135 to the center of the recordingmaterial nipping portion of the recording material discharge roller 68is substantially orthogonal to the discharge direction of the recordingmaterial S. Accordingly, in this exemplary embodiment, the position ofthe recording material nipping portion of the recording materialdischarge roller 68 is not displaced to a large extent even when thedischarge module 130 rotates about the rotation fulcrum 135.

—Angle Adjustment Mechanism—

In addition, the angle adjustment mechanism 140 has a cam 141 that abutsagainst a lower surface of the discharge housing 131 which is separatedfrom the rotation fulcrum 135 of the discharge module 130, and a biasingmember 142 that biases the discharge housing 131 to the cam 141 side soas to maintain a contact state between the cam 141 surface and thedischarge housing 131.

In this example, the cam 141 has at least a large-diameter cam portion143 with a radius r1 and a small-diameter cam portion 144 with a radiusr2.

In this example, the cam 141 is illustrated to have the twolarge-diameter cam portion 143 and small-diameter cam portion 144.However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cam 141may have a cam shape in which the radius changes discontinuously orcontinuously from r1 to r2.

The cam 141 of the angle adjustment mechanism 140 is rotated by apredetermined angle by the a drive motor 103 and, for example, adjuststhe angle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 in thelarge-diameter cam portion 143 with the radius r1 as illustrated in FIG.6A to set the angle of the discharge of the recording material S by therecording material discharge roller 68 to α1 or, for example, adjuststhe angle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 in thesmall-diameter cam portion 144 with the radius r2 as illustrated in FIG.6B to set the angle of the discharge of the recording material S by therecording material discharge roller 68 to α2.

<Control Device>

In this exemplary embodiment, a control device 150 that controls animage forming operation and an operation for transporting the recordingmaterial is disposed.

The control device 150 is configured to be a microcomputer system thathas, for example, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and input/output ports. Forexample, a recording material discharge control program that isillustrated in FIG. 7 is installed in advance on the ROM, informationfrom a recording material type designator 151 that designates the typeof the recording material and a job condition designator 152 thatdesignates a job condition of the recording material S is read by theCPU, and predetermined control signals are sent to the respective drivemotors 101 to 103.

Herein, the recording material type designator 151 may designate, forexample, the basis weight of the recording material S, the length of therecording material S in the transport direction, the presence or absenceof the coating layer in the recording material S, and whether or not thetype of the image recorded on the recording material S is halftone orwhether or not the image includes an image of a predetermined specialpattern (for example, lattice image).

In addition, the job condition designator 152 may designate, forexample, a job in which the number of copies to be printed is plural.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>

In the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2, the toner imagesof the respective color components that are formed on thephotoconductors 31 by the respective imaging engines 22 (22 a to 22 d)are transferred to the intermediate image transfer belt 230 by theprimary image transfer device 51 and then are transferred to therecording material S by the secondary image transfer device 52. Therecording material S that is subjected to the secondary image transferis transported to the recording material discharge device 67 through thefixing device 66 so that the operation for discharging the recordingmaterial S is performed.

In this case, the control device 150 determines the job conditiondesignated by the job condition designator 152 as illustrated in FIG. 7and performs offset control with regard to the recording materialaccommodation receiver 69.

Then, the type of the recording material that is designated by therecording material type designator 151 is determined, and the dischargeangle α of the recording material S is set.

In a case where the basis weight of the recording material S is lessthan a predetermined threshold, the recording material S is determinedto be the thin sheet, and a situation in which the accommodationposition is irregular to a large extent with respect to the recordingmaterial accommodation receiver 69 is unlikely. Accordingly, in thisexample, the cam 141 of the angle adjustment mechanism 140 adjusts theangle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 in thelarge-diameter cam portion 143 with the radius r1, sets the angle of thedischarge of the recording material S by the recording materialdischarge roller 68 to α1, and sets the angle of the discharge of therecording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69to θ1 as illustrated in FIG. 8A. The discharge angle θ1 is a relativelylarge angle. However, since the recording material S is not a thicksheet, an impact or the like with respect to the recording materialaccommodation receiver 69 is absent and the irregularity of theaccommodation position is suppressed to be low.

In contrast, in a case where the basis weight of the recording materialS is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold, the recordingmaterial S is determined to be the thick sheet, and the accommodationposition of the recording material S with respect to the recordingmaterial accommodation receiver 69 is likely to be irregular due to aninertial force of the recording material S. Accordingly, in thisexample, the cam 141 of the angle adjustment mechanism 140 adjusts theangle during the arrangement of the discharge module 130 in thesmall-diameter cam portion 144 with the radius r2, sets the angle of thedischarge of the recording material S by the recording materialdischarge roller 68 to α2 (>α1), and sets the angle of the discharge ofthe recording material S to the recording material accommodationreceiver 69 to θ2 (<θ1) as illustrated in FIG. 8B. When the angle θ2 ofthe discharge of the recording material S to the recording materialaccommodation receiver 69 is set to be small in this manner, the impactof the recording material S on the recording material accommodationreceiver 69 and the irregularity of the accommodation position aresuppressed.

Herein, with regard to the handling of the surface property of therecording material S and the type of the image, the basis weight of therecording material S may be a main factor and the length of therecording material S in the transport direction, the surface property ofthe recording material S, and the type of the image may be handled asminor factors.

For example, in a case where the recording material S is the coatedsheet, the recording material S is more slippery than when the recordingmaterial S is the uncoated sheet, and thus the angle of the discharge ofthe recording material S by the recording material discharge roller 68may be set to α1 as it is even if the basis weight of the recordingmaterial S is equal to or higher than the threshold described above.Accordingly, in a case where the recording material S is the coatedsheet, the threshold of the basis weight of the recording material S maybe set to be slightly higher than the previously set value.

In addition, in a case where the type of the image on the recordingmaterial S is a lattice pattern, the recording material S is moreslippery than when the type of the image is halftone, and thus the angleof the discharge of the recording material S by the recording materialdischarge roller 68 may be set to α1 as it is even if the basis weightof the recording material S is equal to or higher than the thresholddescribed above. Accordingly, in a case where the type of the image onthe recording material S has the lattice pattern, the threshold of thebasis weight of the recording material S may be set to be slightlyhigher.

In a case where the recording material S is the uncoated sheet and in acase where the type of the image on the recording material S ishalftone, the frictional resistance against the recording material S mayincrease, and thus the threshold of the basis weight of the recordingmaterial S may be set to be slightly lower than the previously setvalue.

In addition, in a case where the length of the recording material S inthe transport direction is considered as the characteristic of therecording material S, the recording material S is likely to hit theother recording material S which is already accommodated in therecording material accommodation receiver 69 in a case where, forexample, the recording material S is long in the transport directionwhereas the recording material S is unlikely to directly hit the otherrecording material S which is already accommodated in the recordingmaterial accommodation receiver 69 in a case where, for example, therecording material S is short in the transport direction.

Accordingly, the angle of the discharge of the recording material S tothe recording material accommodation receiver 69 may be set to θ2 (<θ1)in a case where the recording material S is long in the transportdirection since the recording material S which is accommodated in therecording material accommodation receiver 69 is likely to be shifted,and the angle of the discharge of the recording material S to therecording material accommodation receiver 69 may be set to θ1 in a casewhere the recording material S is short in the transport direction sincethe recording material S which is accommodated in the recording materialaccommodation receiver 69 is unlikely to be shifted.

When the discharge angle α of the recording material S is set, forexample, to α1 or α2, the current position of the discharge module 130is determined and control may be performed so that the position of thedischarge module 130 is held if the discharge angle α of the recordingmaterial S matches with the current position and the position of thedischarge module 130 may be moved if the discharge angle α of therecording material S differs from the current position.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 9 illustrates a main portion of a recording material dischargedevice according to a second exemplary embodiment.

In the drawing, the basic configuration of the recording materialdischarge device 67 is substantially similar to that in the firstexemplary embodiment. However, unlike the first exemplary embodiment, inthe second exemplary embodiment, the recording material discharge device67 includes a loading amount detector 160 that is capable of detectingthe loading amount of the recording material S on the recording materialaccommodation receiver 69 and the angle of the discharge of therecording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver 69is changed based on a detection output of the loading amount detector160. The same reference numerals will be attached to the sameconfiguration elements as in the first exemplary embodiment to omit thedetailed description.

In this example, the loading amount detector 160 is configured to be anoptical detector that is disposed in a part of the apparatus housing 21which is adjacent to the recording material accommodation receiver 69,and irradiates the recording material S, which is loaded on therecording material accommodation receiver 69, with light and receivesreflected light from the recording material S so as to recognize adistance m to the surface of the recording material S on the recordingmaterial accommodation receiver 69 and detect the loading amount of therecording material S.

Next, an operation of the recording material discharge device accordingto this exemplary embodiment will be described.

In this example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the control device 150determines the job condition with the job condition designator 152 so asto perform the offset control on the recording material accommodationreceiver 69, determines the information on the type of the recordingmaterial which is designated by the recording material type designator151 so as to set the discharge angle of the recording material S, anddetermines the loading amount of the recording material S on therecording material accommodation receiver 69 from the loading amountdetector 160 so as to correct the discharge angle of the recordingmaterial S.

When the discharge angle α of the recording material S is set to, forexample, α1 or α2, the current position of the discharge module 130 isdetermined and control maybe performed so that the position of thedischarge module 130 is held if the discharge angle α of the recordingmaterial S matches with the current position and the position of thedischarge module 130 may be moved if the discharge angle α of therecording material S differs from the current position.

Herein, the correction of the loading amount of the recording material Swill be described.

In a case where the loading amount of the recording material S on therecording material accommodation receiver 69 is V1, which is less thanthe predetermined threshold, the discharge angle of the recordingmaterial S is assumed to be set to α1 (angle θ1 of the discharge of therecording material S to the recording material accommodation receiver69) as illustrated in FIG. 11A.

When the loading amount of the recording material S on the recordingmaterial accommodation receiver 69 is small as described above, thedischarged recording material S and the recording material S loaded onthe recording material accommodation receiver 69 are at a distance fromeach other to some extent, and thus the discharged recording material Sis subjected to air resistance until colliding with the recordingmaterial S loaded on the recording material accommodation receiver 69and the impact force between the discharged recording material S and therecording material S loaded on the recording material accommodationreceiver 69 is relatively small.

In contrast, when the loading amount of the recording material S on therecording material accommodation receiver 69 reaches V2, which is equalto or higher than the predetermined threshold, the distance between thedischarged recording material S and the recording material S loaded onthe recording material accommodation receiver 69 decreases to someextent, and thus the discharged recording material S may collidestrongly with the recording material S loaded on the recording materialaccommodation receiver 69. Accordingly, in this aspect, the dischargeangle of the recording material S is changed to α2 and the angle of thedischarge of the recording material S to the recording materialaccommodation receiver 69 is changed from θ1 to θ2 (<θ1) as illustratedin FIG. 11B so that the impact force between the discharged recordingmaterial S and the recording material S loaded on the recording materialaccommodation receiver 69 may be suppressed to be small.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 12 illustrates a recording material processing apparatus accordingto a third exemplary embodiment.

In the drawing, the recording material processing apparatus includes animage forming apparatus 200, a post-processing device 220 that performspost-processing on the recording material S where the image is formed bythe image forming apparatus 200, and a relay module 250 that connectsthe image forming apparatus 200 to the post-processing device 220.

In the image forming apparatus 200 of this example, imaging engines 201to 204, where toner images of plural color components are formed, arearranged in an apparatus housing 210, the toner images of the respectivecolor components that are formed by the respective imaging engines 201to 204 are transported via an intermediate image transfer belt 205 andare transferred onto the recording material S by a secondary imagetransfer unit 206, and the recording material S is discharged toward therelay module 250 from a recording material discharge roller 208 (drivingroller 208 a and driven roller 208 b) through a fixing device 207.

Plural recording material supply devices 211 to 213 are disposed in theapparatus housing 210, and the recording material S that is suppliedfrom the recording material supply devices 211 to 213 passes thesecondary image transfer unit 206 of the intermediate image transferbelt 205, the fixing device 207, and the recording material dischargeroller 208 through a recording material transport path 214. In addition,a reverse recording material transport path 215 is disposed between thefixing device 207 and the recording material discharge roller 208 and areturning recording material transport path 216 is disposed at a part ofthe reverse recording material transport path 215 so that the recordingmaterial S where the recording on one of the surfaces is completed isreturned to the secondary image transfer unit 206 during the recordingof the image on both of the surfaces. Sign 217 represents a switchinggate that switches between the recording material transport path 214 andthe reverse recording material transport path 215.

In addition, in this exemplary embodiment, the post-processing device220 has a horizontal transport path 221 that extends in a substantiallyhorizontal direction, an end binding processing apparatus 222 thatperforms end binding on the transported recording material S is disposedat a downstream end of the horizontal transport path 221, and arecording material bundle subjected to the end binding is accommodatedin a first recording material accommodation receiver 223. In addition, alower transport path 224 is disposed to branch to a lower side from thehorizontal transport path 221, and a saddle stitching processingapparatus 225 and a middle folding mechanism 226 are disposed in thelower transport path 224 so that the recording material S bundle issubjected to middle folding processing after saddle stitching and therecording material S bundle, which is processed to have a booklet shape,is accommodated in a second recording material accommodation receiver227. Moreover, an upper transport path 228 is disposed to branch to anupper side from the horizontal transport path 221 and a third recordingmaterial accommodation receiver 229 is disposed at a downstream end ofthe upper transport path 228 so that the recording material S notsubjected to the post-processing is accommodated. Signs 241 and 242represent switching gates that switch between the horizontal transportpath 221, the lower transport path 224, and the upper transport path228.

In this example, the relay module 250 has guide plates 251 of pairconfiguration that receive the recording material S which is dischargedfrom the recording material discharge roller 208 of the image formingapparatus 200, and an appropriate number of feed rollers 252 arearranged in the guide plates 251.

In this exemplary embodiment, the recording material discharge roller208 is built into the discharge module 130 that is rotatable about therotation fulcrum 135 as illustrated in FIG. 13, and the angle adjustmentmechanism 140 that adjusts the angle during the arrangement of thedischarge module 130 is disposed in the discharge module 130.

The discharge module 130 and the angle adjustment mechanism 140 havesubstantially similar configurations as those in the first exemplaryembodiment and the detailed description will be omitted herein.

In this example, a collision sound may be generated during the collisionbetween the recording material S and the guide plates 251 of the relaymodule 250 and a load may become higher as a contact angle between therecording material S and the guide plates 251 becomes steeper in a casewhere the recording material S which is discharged from the recordingmaterial discharge roller 208 is the thick sheet with a basis weightequal to or higher than the predetermined threshold.

Accordingly, in this example, the type of the recording material may bedetermined and the arrangement position of the discharge module 130 maybe changed as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 14B so that thedischarge angle of the recording material S is set to α2 and thedischarge angle of the recording material S with respect to the guideplates 251 is changed to θ2 in a case where, for example, the recordingmaterial S is the thick sheet with a basis weight equal to or higherthan the predetermined threshold. In this manner, the collision soundbetween the discharged recording material S and the guide plates 251 andthe high degree of the load are suppressed.

In a case where the basis weight of the recording material S is lessthan the predetermined threshold, the recording material S is determinedto be the thin sheet, and the angle during the arrangement of thedischarge module 130 may be changed as illustrated in, for example, FIG.14A so that the discharge angle of the recording material S may be setto α1 and discharge angle of the recording material S with respect tothe guide plates 251 may be θ1.

Herein, the length of the recording material S in the transportdirection may be taken into account in setting the threshold of thebasis weight of the recording material S. Concerning the surfaceproperty of the recording material S and the type of the image, thethreshold of the basis weight of the recording material S may beslightly higher than the previously set value in a case where a slipperyelement is in the recording material S and the threshold of the basisweight of the recording material S may be slightly lower than thepreviously set value in a case where a non-slippery element is in therecording material S.

This exemplary embodiment illustrates an aspect in which the relaymodule 250 is interposed between the image forming apparatus 200 and thepost-processing device 220. However, the exemplary embodiment of theinvention may also be applied to an aspect in which the image formingapparatus 200 and the post-processing device 220 are directly connectedto each other without using the relay module 250.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording material discharge device comprising:a recording material discharge member that discharges a recordingmaterial; a receiving member that receives the recording material whichis discharged by the recording material discharge member; and a variablesection that changes an angle of the discharge of the recording materialdischarged by the recording material discharge member.
 2. The recordingmaterial discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the variablesection changes the angle of the discharge of the recording materialaccording to the characteristic of the recording material, the recordingmaterial being discharged by the recording material discharge member. 3.The recording material discharge device according to claim 2, whereinthe variable section allows the angle of the discharge of the recordingmaterial discharged by the recording material discharge member to becomesmaller in a case where a receiving reaction force is large than in acase where the receiving reaction force is small based on thecharacteristic of the recording material affecting the receivingreaction force which acts on the recording material received by thereceiving member.
 4. The recording material discharge device accordingto claim 2, wherein the variable section allows the angle of thedischarge of the recording material discharged by the recording materialdischarge member to become smaller in a case where a frictionalresistance of the recording material is large than in a case where thefrictional resistance of the recording material is small based on thecharacteristic of the recording material affecting the frictionalresistance of the recording material which is discharged to thereceiving member.
 5. The recording material discharge device accordingto claim 2, wherein the characteristic of the recording materialincludes at least any one of a basis weight of the recording material, alength of the recording material in a transport direction, a surfaceproperty of the recording material, and a type of an image recorded onthe recording material.
 6. The recording material discharge deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the variable section allows the angle ofthe discharge of the recording material discharged by the recordingmaterial discharge member to become smaller in a case where a recordingmaterial with a high basis weight is discharged than in a case where arecording material with a low basis weight is discharged when therecording materials with the different basis weights are discharged. 7.The recording material discharge device according to claim 2, whereinthe variable section allows the angle of the discharge of the recordingmaterial discharged by the recording material discharge member to becomesmaller in a case where a recording material that is long in thetransport direction is discharged than in a case where a recordingmaterial that is short in the transport direction is discharged when therecording materials with the different lengths in the transportdirection are discharged.
 8. The recording material discharge deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the variable section allows the angle ofthe discharge of the recording material discharged by the recordingmaterial discharge member to become smaller in a case where a recordingmaterial with a high smoothness is discharged than in a case where arecording material with a low smoothness is discharge when the recordingmaterials with the different surface properties are discharged.
 9. Therecording material discharge device according to claim 2, wherein thevariable section allows the angle of the discharge of the recordingmaterial discharged by the recording material discharge member to becomesmaller in a case where a recording material on which line images aremainly recorded is discharged than in a case where a recording materialon which surface images are mainly recorded is discharged when therecording materials on which the different types of the images arerecorded are discharged.
 10. The recording material discharge deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the recording material discharge memberincludes: discharge members of pair configuration that rotate in contactwith each other; and a supporting member that supports the dischargemembers of pair configuration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum, andwherein the variable section changes the angle of the discharge of therecording material discharged by the recording material discharge memberwithout changing relative positions of the discharge members of pairconfiguration by rotating the supporting member about the rotationfulcrum of the supporting member.
 11. The recording material dischargedevice according to claim 2, wherein the recording material dischargemember includes: discharge members of pair configuration that rotate incontact with each other; and a supporting member that supports thedischarge members of pair configuration and rotates about a rotationfulcrum, and wherein the variable section changes the angle of thedischarge of the recording material discharged by the recording materialdischarge member without changing relative positions of the dischargemembers of pair configuration by rotating the supporting member aboutthe rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.
 12. The recordingmaterial discharge device according to claim 3, wherein the recordingmaterial discharge member includes: discharge members of pairconfiguration that rotate in contact with each other; and a supportingmember that supports the discharge members of pair configuration androtates about a rotation fulcrum, and wherein the variable sectionchanges the angle of the discharge of the recording material dischargedby the recording material discharge member without changing relativepositions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating thesupporting member about the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.13. The recording material discharge device according to claim 4,wherein the recording material discharge member includes: dischargemembers of pair configuration that rotate in contact with each other;and a supporting member that supports the discharge members of pairconfiguration and rotates about a rotation fulcrum, and wherein thevariable section changes the angle of the discharge of the recordingmaterial discharged by the recording material discharge member withoutchanging relative positions of the discharge members of pairconfiguration by rotating the supporting member about the rotationfulcrum of the supporting member.
 14. The recording material dischargedevice according to claim 5, wherein the recording material dischargemember includes: discharge members of pair configuration that rotate incontact with each other; and a supporting member that supports thedischarge members of pair configuration and rotates about a rotationfulcrum, and wherein the variable section changes the angle of thedischarge of the recording material discharged by the recording materialdischarge member without changing relative positions of the dischargemembers of pair configuration by rotating the supporting member aboutthe rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.
 15. The recordingmaterial discharge device according to claim 6, wherein the recordingmaterial discharge member includes: discharge members of pairconfiguration that rotate in contact with each other; and a supportingmember that supports the discharge members of pair configuration androtates about a rotation fulcrum, and wherein the variable sectionchanges the angle of the discharge of the recording material dischargedby the recording material discharge member without changing relativepositions of the discharge members of pair configuration by rotating thesupporting member about the rotation fulcrum of the supporting member.16. The recording material discharge device according to claim 10,wherein a straight line connecting a position of a recording materialnipping portion of the discharge members of pair configuration and therotation fulcrum of the supporting member is substantially orthogonal toa direction of the discharge of the recording material discharged by therecording material discharge member in the variable section.
 17. Therecording material discharge device according to claim 2, wherein thevariable section includes a designation section that designates thecharacteristic of the recording material, and wherein the angle of thedischarge of the recording material discharged by the recording materialdischarge member is changed based on the characteristic of the recordingmaterial designated by the designation section.
 18. The recordingmaterial discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the receivingmember is a recording material accommodating member that accommodatesthe recording material which is discharged by the recording materialdischarge member, and wherein the variable section further includes adetection section that is capable of detecting a loading amount of therecording material which is accommodated in the recording materialaccommodating member as the receiving member, and allows the angle ofthe discharge of the recording material discharged by the recordingmaterial discharge member to the recording material accommodating memberto become smaller in a case where the loading amount of the recordingmaterial is large than in a case where the loading amount of therecording material is small based on a result of the detection by thedetection section.
 19. A recording material processing apparatuscomprising: a processing section that processes a recording material;and the recording material discharge device according to claim 1 thatdischarges the recording material which is processed by the processingsection.
 20. A recording material processing apparatus comprising: apost-processing section that post-processes a recording material; andthe recording material discharge device according to claim 1 thatdischarges the recording material toward the post-processing section.